AUTHOR: Lockhart
EMAIL: Katie@ballantyne24.freeserve.co.uk
CATEGORY: Mark Greene/Elizabeth Corday
RATING: PG13 1/4 parts
SPOILERS: Just some minor ones for season 7
ARCHIVE: Archive my fic on your site if you want but please let me know first
DISCLAIMER: I don't own ER or any of the characters but I sure wish I did ( especially Carter and Dave ). I am also not a real doctor so any medical information could be innacurate.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: See end of fic
SUMMARY: A secret only Mark knows could shatter his life forever and drastically change the future of his wife Elizabeth

Mark felt the fresh morning breeze blow gently on his face as he watched the
cars pass by his new house. He was certain Elizabeth would love the house, he
would do absolutley anything to make the woman he so dearly loved happy.
Absolutely anything. At last he had found his true soulmate, the woman he
cherished most in the whole wide world. Every morning as he woke up beside
Elizabeth Corday he felt like the luckiest man alive. He knew he was destined to
spend the rest of his life with her as soon as he caught sight of the British
surgeon. At that time though he was tied down in a loveless relationship with
Cynthia Hooper, the Er's desk clerk. Cynthis was a lovely woman, but she just
didn't understand him at all. At that point he was still trying to come to terms
with his recent assault in the mens washroom and simply needed some comfort.
Cynthia was looking for commitment and love. With Elizabeth he didn't need to
pretend to be someone else, he could relax and have fun. Most importantly he
could be himself. I have everything I ever wanted from life,he thought as he
watched the sun rise from behind a few white, fluffy clouds. So why now has fate
decided to stike me a cruel blow? Why do I now face losing this happiness and
content? I simply wanted to grow old in this house beside my beautiful wife, I
couldn't face not having her in my life. I just want things to be the way they
were before. Before I found out.

"Mark" Elizabeth whispered as she crept up behind him and kissed her husband
lightly on the forehead. "You're certainly up early"

"What time is your shift?" she asked, taking a seat beside him on the
balcony.

"Nine" he answered, never taking his eyes off the woman.

"I'll make breakfast" she replied cheerfully, making her way through to their
large kitchen. "How about pancakes drizzled in maple syrup?"

"Sounds delcious" he shouted, glancing up to catcha glimpse of an aeroplane
flying by. Although is worst fears had not yet been confirmed, he knew they were
true. That these wonderful mornings spent with Elizabeth would never come
again. I should enjoy this incredible moment whilst it lasts, he thought
sadly. It may be my last.

********

"Morning Dr Greene" Abby greeted the physician as he entered the reception
area.

"Hi Abby" he replied, taking off his waterproof jacket. "What have we got
this morning?"

"21 year old man complaining of back ache in exam four, 9 year girl in
curtain three complains of abdominal pain and there's a 57 year old woman in
curtain one who took a nasty fall at home" she informed him.

"Dr Greene incoming trauma!" Chuny shouted as she ran towards the doctor and
nurse. "RTA, three majors, two minors. EMT's are rolling up now"

"Okay clear trauma one and two" Mark ordered, taking control of the situation
at once. "Grab Luka, Chen and Carter, page surgery down here too!"

"32 year old male, found drunk at the wheel" Zadro informed as he rushed the
patient into the hospital. "Trauma to the head with multiple lacerations. BP's
130/90, pulse 90"

"Thanks Zadro" Mark replied as he helped push the gurney into Trauma One.
"Gently on my count folks, 1, 2, 3! Lets get a CBC, ABG, type and cross for
four, a PT, blood alcohol level and a tox screen"

"Mark do you need my assistance?" Jing-Mei asked as she appeared at the
doorway.

"Yeh" the male attending answered as he listened to the patient's lungs
through his stethoscope. "Good breath sounds bi-laterally. Give him 10 of
morphine and 100 of lidocaine"

"Pupils open and reactive" Jing-Mei noted as she flashed a penlight into the
man's eyes. "Order a Head CT and hook him up to an IV of normal saline"

"His name is...........Rodney Chambers" Chuny told the doctors as she finally
found an ID card in the leather wallet he had been carrying.

"Hey leave my stuff alone!" Rodney slurred in his drunken state.

"Charming eh?" Dr Chen grunted in disgust. Personally she didn't think Mr
Chambers deserved to live. This maniac had managed to seriously injure a family
of four and didn't even seem to show any remorse for his actions. Two innocent
children could easily lose their lives because of his stupidity and
carelessness.

"Just keep your mind on the job Jing-Mei" Mark replied sternly. Although he
did agree with the female doctor, this was no time to let her emotions rule her
better judgement. "Call me when the Head CT arrives. What's the bullet Luka?" he
inquired as he dashed through to the adjoining trauma room.

"Thirty seven year old male named Ray Dennis, found unconscious in the
driver's seat" Luka answered.

"GCS score about a 5. I'd give him a 3 for still being alive" Luka shook his
head sadly. The situation suddenly brought back memories of his own family's
death. The three people he cared about most in the entire world as a result of a
country torn apart by a vicious war. The man lying on this gurney bed had simply
been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Just like his beloved wife and
children.

*******

"Well what a wonderful way to start the morning" Robert groaned sarcastically
as he pushed open the doors to the third trauma room. "Gretyl keeps me awake all
night with her constant barking and now I've just arrived in the midst of a
multi-victim trauma"

"You lead such a gruelling life robert" Elizabeth replied in disgust. He
could try and show at least a little compassion for the little girl lying on
theis gurney bed, she sighed in vain. Surely he does have a heart lurking
underneath that brash and egostistical exterior. No, that horrible little turd
doesn't care about anyone except himself.

"Conni order a belly CT" Carter told the nurse as he examined the terrified
little girl.

"Is my Mommy and Daddy okay?" she asked timidly.

"I'm sure they are alright" Dave answered, flashing Jennifer a wide, friendly
smile. "What's your favourite cartoon?" he asked, trying his best to take her
mind off the horrific accident.

"Winnie The Pooh"

"Really? Well that's my favourite too! I love Tigger, he is just simply the
coolest guy on television"

"Nice to know I emply mature adults who watch cartoons aimed at five year
olds" Robert replied.

"Oh c'mon Rob, don't tell me you don't like to indulge in watching old kids
favourites such as Mickey Mouse every now and then?"

"Do you wish t continue working here in County general Mala...........wucci
or whatever the hell your surname is?" he asked rather viciously.

"Nice going Dave" John laughed quietly.

"Sweetheart does it hurt when I press down here?" Elizabeth inquired, gently
touvhing her stomach.

"A little" Jennifer nodded. Elizabeth stood upright for a moment and held
tightly onto the gurney for support. A slight wave of dizziness passed through
her head so she closed her small, emerald eyes and waited for the strong pain to
subside.

"Lizzie are you okay?" Dave asked, generally concerned for the surgeon's
well-being.

"Fine" she opend her eyes to face him. "Just rather tired"

"BP's 90/70, pulse brady at 60" Lydia interrupted.

"Give her another milligram of dopamine and order an ABG" Carter replied.
"Jennifer are you having a little trouble breathing?" The small girl nodded in
reply to John's question. "My chest hurts" she whispered weakly.

"Well we're going to have to put a tube down your throat to help you breathe"
he explained. "There's nothing to worry about sweetheart, you are in very good
hands" As John spoke, Jennifer's eyes slowly closed before the machines around
her suddenly started to bleep wildly.

"Pressure's dropping!" Conni screamed at the top of her voice to make sure
everyone in the room heard her clearly. "BP 70/50, pulse 50!"

"Jennifer, Jennifer open your eyes" Dave ordered, tapping her chest a couple
of times in the hope of a response.

"Run in another 100 of lidocaine" John added as he assisted the other doctors
in their desperate attempts to revive the patient.

"And start CPR now!" Robert yelled as he watched Dave commence chest
compressions. A tiny thought at the back of his mind told him that the girl
didn't stand a tiny chance of survival. No matter what attempts they made to
re-start her heart, Jennifer's last moments on this earth had passed. The male
surgeon felt a small tear form at the corner of his eye. Why did such a young
girl have her life cut tragically short because of an idiot who decided to drive
after drinking? Did the man in question even show a glimmer of remorse for his
tragic actions? Although the staff of his hospital viewed him as cold-hearted,
arrogant, selfish rat, Robert Romano truly did care about the little girl lying
on the gurney bed.

*******

"Heart rate's falling!" Yish shouted.

"Push in another milligram of atrophine" Mark ordered as he tried his hardest
to repair the patient's collapsed lung.

"Pressure's falling!" Abby told them trying to maintain her usual, calm
composure. "Another two units of O Neg going up on the rapid infuser"

"There must be a clot in the thoracic cavity" Mark shook his head. "Page Dr
Kayson from Cardiology"

"Dr Greene do you wish to inject TPA?" the female nurse asked him, looking
towards him for leadership.

"No" Luka interrupted in a more commanding tone of voice. "We don't know for
sure if he actually has a blood clood clot in the coronary artery"

"Yes but if he does have a clot he could die without proper traetment" Mark
argued fiercely"

"He might not have a clot though!" Luka snapped back angrily. "If we inject
TPA he could die from the powerful drug!"

"We've lost the pulse!" Yosh yelled, attracting the attentions of the two men
locked in a bitter arguement.

"Start compressions at once" Cleo ordered. "Give him a milligram of
Solumedrol and another 5 of adenosine"

"BP's 160/110, he's hypertensive" Abby said in the midst of all the noise
created by the machines all around her.

"He's throwing PVCs" Luka noted as he continued the chest compressions. "100
of lidocaine"

"V-Fib!"

"Paddles" Mark requested as Abby handed the neccesary pieces of equipment
over to him. "Charge to 300, clear!"

"Still in V-Fib, crit's down to 81" Cleo spoke.

"Again, charge to 300. Clear!"

*******

"When was the last epi?" John asked as he watched Lydia bag the girl.

"10 minutes ago" the nurse answered sadly.

"That's it" Robert decided. "She's been down too long. Hold the compressions"
Dave stood back as he stared at Jennifer, lying motionless on the gurney. Tubes
and wires were hooked up to her body, delivering the medicine she so desperately
needed to stay alive. Her face as white as snow, as if no blood ran under the
flesh.

"Time of death 11:42" Carter said quietly as he pulled off his trauma gown.
Pushing the door beside him open, he entered the adjoining trauma room where
Mark, Luka and Cleo were working feverishly to resucitate the father.

"Charge to 360, clear!" Mark yelled as he brought the paddles into contact
with the patient's chest. "Another 100 of lidocaine, clear!"

"Asystole" Abby said as a flatline appeared on the ECG.

"It's no use" Luks told him. "Time of death 11:45" Mark threw down the
paddles bitterly before ripping off his gown and gloves and throwing them on the
floor. Wiping the sweat from his brow he suddenly felt a strange twitch in his
abdomen. Those thoughts were immediately discarded when Haleh appeared at the
doorway beside the patient's wife.

"Oh my goodness Ray!" he woman with short chestnut hair screamed in horror as
she rushed into the room. "Ray!" she sobbed, stroking his short jet black hair
with her long, slender fingers. "No Ray, I love you. Please don't leave me and
the children. I need you ray, the kids need you. Ray, no, no!" Mark watched in
sympathy as Mrs Dennis rested her head against her husband's chest. It was sucha
tragic sight, a woman in mourning for her dead usband. How would she cope with
the pain and grief of losing a loved one? How would anyone cope in the that
situation? As mark asked himself those questions, he felt a sharp pain just
below his chest. It may have only lasted a couple of minutes but he knew that
was the kind of pain he would have to endure in the weeks to follow. "I'm so
sorry Mrs Dennis" Mark comforted the distraught woman as he clutched his chest.
"I am so sorry"

*******

Mark sat on the steps beside the ambulance bay, feeling the warm sunshine
beat down on his forehead. The warm rays of golden sunshine were the only light
in his life at the moment. I two hours time he would know the dreadful truth.
The truth that would decide the future for Dr Mark Greene.

"Rough morning eh Mark?" John spoke as he took a seat beside the older
doctor. He took out a cigarette from his pocket followed by a small lighter.

"I know, I am a doctor after all" John laughed as he raised it to his mouth,
inhaling the sweet nicotine.

"You know I've never told you this Carter, but I'm proud of you. You battled
your drug addiction bravely and have managed to stay clean for nearly half a
year. It's an honour to be your friend"

"Oh please" John shook his head, feeling rather embaressed at his friend's
kind, endearing words. "I should never have needed to go to rehab in the first
place. It's a period of my life I am certainly not proud of. After the stabbing
I felt so guilty about Lucy's death, I blamed myself for not protecting her
properly. In the two years I knew her all I ever did was shout at her, give her
an incredibly hard time. As much as the girl tried, she could never do anything
to please me. Even when I found out she had stopped taking Ritalin for her
hyperactivity I still didn't offer her the support she so richly deserved"

"I'm sure that where ever Lucy is now you are the least of the people she
would blame" Mark replied sorrowfully.

"I still have the nightmares" Carter continued. "It is the same image I see
every night, Lucy lying still on the cold, concrete floor, covered in litres of
her own blood. Her wide eyes open with tremendous fear. Her pale face as white
as snow. So I vowed I would never let any patient in my care die. I know it's a
pathetic exuse but I turned to the drugs because I though they would help me. I
thought they would me through my tiring shifts, my pain, my sorrow.......... It
should have been me that died on Valentine's night, not Lucy"

Mark stared sadly at the ground below his feet, watching his tall shadow from
above. What did it actually mean to die? What would it be like knowing you only
had a few hours left in this wonderful world? Would there be life after death,
or would that be it? After you pass away you simply become a memory in the minds
of the people you love? How do the fiends and relatives that you leave behind
cope? How do you manage to cope? There were so many questions running through
his mind that remained unanswered. "Don't dwell on the past too much John" he
finally replied, standing up from his seat on the steps. "Enjoy your life whilst
you still can. You never know when it might be cruelly snatched away from you"
he strolled away in the direction of the hospital entrance leaving Carter to
ponder on his last words. What did his friend's words exactly mean?

********

"Scalpel" Robert ordered as his surgical nurse Shirley handed him over the
desired instrument. "So Lizzie, are you enjoying life in your new home with
lover boy?" he asked, looking up at her with a grin on his face.

"If you are referring to Mark then yes, we love our new home" Elizabeth
replied, glaring at her boss who stood on the opposite side of the gurney from
her.

"How sickenly sweet" he laughed. "You must invite me over for dinner one
night"

"I'd rather sell my soul to the devil" she muttered under her breath.

"Ouch Lizzie! You certainly do know how to hurt a man's feelings. I thought
we were the best of friends now, obviously I am mistaken"

"Suction" she requested, barely able to hide her annoyance and frustration at
the man.

"Uh oh" Robet said suddenly as he paused for a moment from operating.
"There's a small tear to the bottom left of the liver""You're joking"
Elizabeth sighed. Normally a simple operation would be no problem for the
experienced female surgeon but in the last hour she had experienced some nausae
and dizziness. All she wished to do was lie down for an hour, not repair a man's
liver. Especially the liver of a man who had just torn a family of four apart,
killing the father and daughter.

"I just feel slightly sick" she answered, tilting her head to the side
slightly.

"Well when you have just cracked open a man's chest to reveal a lot of blood
and organs, sometimes you do feel slightly nauseated" he mocked her. "It
certainly does put me off the steak dinner I have planned for tonight"

"No I think I am really going to be sick" she panicked dropping the sponge
she was holding in her right hand. "Excuse me Robert" Quickly pullling off her
gown and gloves, she held her hand to her mouth and dashed in the direction of
the ladies toilets.

"Lizzie get your ass back over here now!" yelled a bewilldered Romano. "Damn
it" he quielty cursed as he watched her run into the distance of the surgical
department.

*******

Mark walked slowly down the empty corridor. Every step nearer to the room
grew heavy on his heart, the same heart that was beating extremely fast. He had
been fretting whether to turn up for this vital appointment or not. Did he want
the truth or should he perhaps just live in blissful ignorance to it? Would
lving without the facts be better or worse? It was a rhetorical question he
could keep on asking himself. No one would answer him though, it had to be his
decision alone. This is it, he gulped in fear as he knocked on the grand
wooden door. I'm doing this for you Elizabeth. You deserve to know the truth my
love. "Dr Michaels" Mark acknowledged as he entered the small, cosy
room.

"Dr Greene" the man nodded as he sat down in his large leather chair. "We
have your test results back"

********

"What can I say?" Carter laughed in astonishment. "Congratulations
Elizabeth!"

"You mean I'm pregnany?" she asked, staring at the ultrasound screen, trying
her hardest to make out a clear image.

"looks to me like you are about eight or nine weekd pregnant" John
replied.

"That's.......that's great!" she squealed in delight, jumping up from the bed
to hug the male doctor in excitement. "I simply can't believe it, Mark and I are
going to be parents!"

"I am very happy for you both" he told her honestly. "Mark will be absolutely
thrilled with the news"

"Thanks again John" Elizabeth hugged him for a second time. "I can't wait to
tell him the great news"

"Uh Elizabeth" John called after her as the female surgeon turned to leave
the room. "Is Mark okay? It's just that he seemed a little depressed when I
talked to him this morning. There's nothing wrong, is there?"

"Mark's fine" she reassured him. "It's probably just the stress of moving
house recently"

"Yeh you're right" John laughed, feeling rather embaressed for asking such a
silly question. "I'm sure he is fine"

********

Mark turned the key inside the golden lock and pushed open the door to his
house. He had taken a long walk after work to help clear his head. So many
worrying thoughts were flooding his mind that he just couldn't think properly.
I have to tell her, he sighed, hanging his jacket on a small hook in the
hallway. But how exactly am I supposed to tell her? Will she cope well with the
news? How am I supposed to cope?

"Mark you're home" Elizabeth rushed over to where her husband stood, a
worried expression across her small face. "Your shift ended two hours ago"

"I decided to take a walk" he replied, glancing away from her concerned
stare. He simply couldn't look her in the eyes anymore. It simply broke his
heart into a thousand and one tiny pieces.

"Anyway" she smiled happily. "I've cooked us a special dinner, we have
something to celebrate"

"What?" he asked.

"I'm pregnant Mark" she finally told him. Mark's face fell as he heard her
utter those three little words. Pregnant? No, this couldn't possibly be
happening. He didn't want Elizabeth to be carrying his child at this moment in
life. He didn't want her to be pregnant at all. No, surely this couldn't be
happening to him. "Mark?" she gently broke him out of his thoughts. "Mark, speak
to me. Mark!" He looked sadly at her before walking slowly through to their
bedroom. Closing the door behind him, he sat down on the edge of their large bed
and broke down into a flood of tears. Behind the wooden door stood a distraught
Elizabeth, wondering why her husband could not accept his unborn child.

Authors Notes: Just a note to say that this fanfic does not in anyway
follow the storyline of Mark's brain tumour in ER. As you read the next few
chapters my fanfic will take a few new twists and turns. So what is Mark hiding
from Elizabeth? Why can't he accept the baby? Can the relationship between the
two doctors survive? Find out in part two of Till Death Us Do Part! Also I would
like to thank Starkid for all the great help in this story, this fanfic is for
you!